Dog owners are being warned about the dangers of giving their pets cod liver oil supplements - which could prove fatal.

Many people give their four legged friend oily fish supplements to help ward off arthritis and painful skin problems. Some might be tempted to give their pet cheap cod liver oil capsules made for people - rather than ones specifically-created for pooches - as they can be bought for a quarter of the price.

But leading veterinary surgeon Iain Booth says that doing so risks giving your dog a serious overdose - and could even make existing conditions WORSE.

Mr Booth, founder of online retailer www.vetuk.co.uk , explained: “Cod liver oil is an invaluable source of Omega 3 fatty acids, as well as vitamins A and D, which are great for boosting the strength of bones and teeth in dogs, while also improving the quality of the skin and coat.

“But you need only read a few pet owner forums to find examples of well-meaning individuals who feed their dog cod liver oil tablets designed for humans, not pets.

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“And that’s a very bad idea indeed - one that could even prove fatal in some extreme cases.”

Mr Booth says cod liver oil supplements for human can be bought for just 99p for a pack of 30 tablets, where as most dog cod liver oil supplement start at around £4.50 for a similar amount. But the actual dosages in the two tablets differ radically.

Mr Booth adds: “A human tablet will contain around 1,000mg of cod liver oil, while a dog tablet typically has around 300mg. That’s a huge difference. “If your dog is getting too much vitamin D, it could get a hardening or calcification of body tissues, which leads to serious inflammation in the kidneys, heart and arteries. Too much vitamin A can result in a rare form of arthritis, where new bone develops around joints, leading to chronic stiffness. And this damage is irreversible.

“If there’s to much vitamin A and D, the excess gets stored in the body and causes the liver to work harder than it needs to processing the surplus, causing further issues. “Meanwhile giving dogs too much fish oil could impair their ability to heal after suffering a wound, too.

“The message is clear; Yes, human cod liver oil tablets may be cheaper, but your beloved pet will be the one paying the price.”

Mr Booth says you should be giving your dog one cod liver oil capsule per 10kg of bodyweight. And he says supplementing with actual oil, rather than in the form of a tablet, is great for dogs fed a dry diet, and who might be prone to respiratory illnesses. There are other doggy dietary pitfalls, too.

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He says: “Canine obesity is clearly a big problem. And you have to remember that dogs should be very lean - almost underweight in many people’s eyes. In evolutionary terms, they’re ‘gorgers’. In the wild, they’d come across food very occasionally. So it’s very easy to overfeed a dog, particularly snacks and treats.

“If you give a cocker spaniel something simple like a digestive biscuit, or the crusts from your toast, in some cases you can be giving them 20 per cent of their recommended daily energy intake without really knowing it.

“And I don’t think it’s ignorance - I think people know if they’re over-feeding. It’s about making people aware of the health problems you can cause a dog by continuing to do it.”

When it comes to feeding your dog through winter, you should also break-out the carbs.

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Mr Booth adds: “In the colder months, you can help your dog stay warm outdoors by feeding it something which will provide sustained energy throughout the day. “You’d be looking to feed the dog something with a reasonable carbohydrate content - roughly 30-50 per cent of the total meal. Rice, maize, wheat or potato are the common sources.”

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